What is it that gives President Obama the notion that he’s entitled to a vote on who represents New York in the US Senate?

He’s made it clear from the git-go that he prefers seat-warming cipher Kirsten Gillibrand as a permanent replacement for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And it’s easy to understand why: Gillibrand is a regular Docile Dora when it comes to the administration — doing what she’s told and not making a peep about it, no matter how much damage it does to New York.

So it’s no surprise that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, when asked Monday about a possible primary challenge to Gillibrand from former Rep. Harold Ford, responded: “The White House is quite happy with the leadership and the representation of Sen. Gillibrand in New York, and . . . we’re supporting her re-election.”

Um, memo to Gibbs: Gillibrand hasn’t been elected to the office she holds — but, of course, if your boss has his way, no meaningful election will be held.

That way, when the White House needs two Senate votes from New York, it’ll only have to call one senator: Gillibrand’s home-state puppet-master (and Obama enforcer) Chuck Schumer.

The latter has been working at least as hard as Obama to protect Gillibrand from having to explain her views (if she actually has any) to the voters.

The pile-on makes a mockery of democratic principle, though at least Schumer has standing as a New Yorker.